Oil engine



J., F. IANDERS June 13, 1939.

OIL ENGINE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1958 wrruasss INVENTOR John flnoZer- BY I ATTORNEY June 13, 1939. J. F. ANDERS OIL ENGINE 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1938 r RNVENTOR John F flzders ATTORNEYS Patented June 13; 1939 UNITED STATES T EENT OFF I CE '6 Claims.

This invention relates to oil engines and more specifically to animproved injector valve assemblage which functions to 'compressa fuel mixture to a degree higher than the pressure of the air in the engine cylinder and cause the mixture to be discharged into the engine cylinder in a more or less ignited state when the working piston in the engine cylinder is at or near top dead center.

The invention involves many novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. l is a fragmentary broken view in longitudinal section illustrating-my improved valve assemblage;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in-elevation looking at the right :of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of :my improved adjustable plate for operating the needle valve of the assemblage;

Fig. '5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the-constructionshown in .Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal horizontal section through the injector nozzle;

Fig. 7 is a view in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in end elevation of the nozzle shown in Figs. 6 and '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section illustrating a modification.

The reference character I0 is employed to indicate a cylinder of a Diesel engine which is provided with a head I l and equipped with the ordi nary working piston l2, .air inlet valve l3, and exhaust valve l4. It is to be understood that these valves l3 and I4 are operated through the medium of cams Hand "5 on a timing shaft I! so that their opening and closing is properly timed.

l8 represents the casing of my improved valve assemblage and this casing may constitute integral parts of both the head I l and the cylinder III. This casing is internal, of general cylindrical shape, its upper portion within the head "being slightly larger in internal diameter than that portion of the casing constituting a part of the cylinder.

In the upper portion of the casing I locate a liner [9 in which a pressure head :20 is movable and the downward movement of :this pressure head 20 is limited by its engagement with theseat 2| on the upper 'endof -a bushing 22 located in the lower portion of the casing l8. The pressure head!!! is preferably hollow as indicated, and is held normally in its lowest position by means of a coil spring 23 located between a washer 24 on the upper end of the head20 and a cap screw 25 screwed into the upper end of the casing l8 5 and providing a certain amount of adjustment end of the valve seat 2| of bushing 22 and serves to direct the charge usually in the form of a mixture of partially ignited fuel and concentrates of unburned fuel from the valve casing into the :20 engine cylinder H).

A hollow piston 32 is mounted to reciprocate in the bushing 22 and is fixed to or made integral with a rod 33 which extends through a stuffing box 34 in a cap nut 35 screwed into the lower end .525 of the casing .l8. This rod 33 is preferably made in sections having screw threaded juncture as shown at 36 and 3'! to allow for adjustment of the length of the same, and a coil spring 38 is located around the same between the stuffing .30 box 34 and a'collar 35 on the same exerting downward pressure on the screw tending to move the piston downwardly and maintain a valve tappet 39 on the lower end of the stem in engagement with a cam 40 on the timing shaft I! which 13051-135 tively moves the stem and piston'upwardly at the proper time. I

The upper end of the :piston 32 is .formed with anjopening having .a valve seat M which is normally engaged and closed by a valve 42. This .40

valve-42 is provided with a 'stem 43 which is movable in the upper tubular portion 44 of the rod 33. A portion of this stem 43 is formed with a longitudinal slot 45 in which a coil spring '45 is located, and a cotter pin 41 is projected through .45 the rod 33, and the coil spring 44 is disposed between this cotter pin and the lower portion of the stem 43 normally holding the valve 42 in its closed position.

The piston 32 above referred to is hollow and ,50 is provided with openings 48 in its lower portion for the entrance of the fuel mixture which enters through an inlet port 49 and communicates with any suitable form of carbureter or fuel mixture supplying means.

It is to be understood that my improved oil engine operates by the introduction into the air under compression of a charge of fuel that has been ignited by the heat of compression generated in the valve assembly. This fuel completes its combustion in the engine cylinder in the course of its operation.

The needle valve 21 above referred to is oper ated through the medium of a rocker shaft 59 supported on the head H and having a rocker arm operatively connected to the needle valve and a second rocker arm 52 which is engaged by a rod 53. This rod 53 is elevated at the proper time through the medium of a plate 55, and it is to be assumed that this plate 54 is pivoted at one end as shown at 55, and a link 56 is shown more or less diagrammatically to indicate that the pivot 55 may be moved in a direction longitudinally of the plate. recess 5'! in its lower face receiving a cam 58 on the timing shaft H.

It is to be noted that this recess 5"! is of such length that it permits the movement of the cam 58 in the same for a predetermined distance without lifting the plate but as the cam reaches the end of the recess it causes the plate to quickly elevate and therefore quickly open the needle valve and allow the same to quickly close. The timing of this movement is of course varied by the shifting of the plate and its pivot.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings I show a single liner or bushing 59 which extends into both the upper and lower portions of the valve casing and a spring pressed head 69 corresponding to the spring pressed head 23 of the preferred form has its downward move ment limited by a flange 6| on the upper end of the head engaging the liner or bushing as. In other respects, the construction is similar to that above described and like reference numerals have been employed to indicate like parts.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, the operation of my improved oil engine is as follows:

Fig. 1 shows the position of the parts just after the fuel mixture in the form of a flame has been discharged into the engine cylinder and may be considered an initial position of. the valve assemblage. When the timing shaft ll turns to a position to permit the lowering of the rod 33, the piston 32 will move downwardly and out off the fuel inlet 49 operating to compress the fuel mixture in the lower portion of the chamber and cause the fuel mixture to enter the piston through the openings 48. Valve 42 opens primarily by atmospheric pressure or suction. The pressure resulting under 32 from the downward motion of rod 33 is incidental and for the purpose of more quickly filling the space created under pressure head 29 by this downward motion. On the upward stroke of the piston 32 the pressure between the piston and the pressure head 26 will cause the valve 42 to close assisted by the spring it, and this movement of the piston past the fuel inlet 39 will create a pressure vacuum in the lower portion of the chamber and induce a suction of fuel mixture into the chamber to assist the rapid flow of fuel mixture into the Valve assemblage. When the piston 32 continues to move upwardly, due of course to the action of the cam 40 on the rod 33, the piston 32 will compress the fuel mixture or charge between the head of the piston and the spring pressure head 23 which will be forced upwardly against the action of its spring 23, and this pressuremay be very little in The plate 54 has, a cam excess of the pressure of air in the engine cylinder but will be suflicient to cause the fuel charge to ignite and at the proper time, or when the working piston nears or reaches top dead center, the needle valve 21 will open and a fuel mixture in the form of a partially ignited and atomized oil will be discharged into the engine cylinder.

Assuming the engine uses a low compression of 100 lbs. per sq. in.: In this case a carbureter would supply the engine with an explosive mixture of oil and air. The injector valve in this case would also have its fuel mixture of a simi lar nature. Then at the proper time when the engine piston has compressed its charge and is at or near top dead center the injector valve has similarly compressed its charge but due to the spring loading on the compression head 20 the pressure, and as a result the temperature, is such that an explosion takes place, At this coincident time the needle valve opens and the flame ejected ignites the charge in the engine cylinder. Upon completion of the power stroke the various cycles repeat.

In a medium compression engine (250 to 300 lbs. per sq. in.) only air is drawn in by the engine piston. The injector valve on the other hand handles the entire fuel charge. Here the mixture is so rich in fuel that only partial combustion takes place in the injector valve and at the appointed time; the fuel having been ignited by the heat of compression in the injector valve, flaming fuel is injected into the engine cylinder there to complete its combustion and propel the engine.

In a high compression engine, as in the true Diesel type, the injector valve again takes all the fuel. In this case, however, the tension in spring is relieved somewhat so that pressure in the valve is not much more than in the engine cylinder, then at the proper time the needle valve is lifted and the fuel is ejected into the engine cylinder, igniting by the heat of compression. Here adjustments must be closely made to avoid pre-ignition of the fuel. This has reference to the shape of the cam face, spring tension on the compression head 20, and compression pressure in the engine cylinder. A small amount of pre-ignition in the injector valve is not objectionable but assists in cold starting.

The engine and valve assemblage above de scribed has many advantages some of which may be enumerated as follows:

Fuel (oil) mixed with air is drawn into and delivered by the injection valve in an atomized or vaporized state.

Any degree of pre-ignition may be had, depending on the proportioning of the parts involved.

Due to atomization of fuel and admixture with air, a larger volume per engine cylinder is handled, permitting decrease in size of engine cylinder without loss of efficiency in handling smaller volumes required.

Elimination of separate fuel pump.

Elimination of independently generated air pressure to inject fuel charge into engine cylinder.

Simplicity of governing volumes and hence Universal applicability to single cylinder, straight line, V-type and radial engines.

Position of injector valve, whether vertical,

horizontal, inverted or between these points has no eflect on action of this injection valve, since the fuel is in a state of suspension due to atomization and admixture with air, hence charge is not affected by gravity to the extent that fuel in a liquid state would be.

Adjustability of operation with respect to its parts and compression pressures used.

Moving parts are directly lubricated by contact with lubricating value of fuel used or by admixture of lubricating oil with the fuel.

Easy replacement of complete valve or parts thereof in case of breakdown without affecting the operating adjustment of the engine as a whole.

Adjustability of fuel requirements to the individual cylinder of a group to insure evenness of efiort.

Atomization as here used to apply to the fuel, may vary between comparatively coarse droplets to a fine fog or when operating conditions demand, a gaseous vapor.

I claim:

1. An injector assemblage for anoil burning engine comprising an injection nozzle, a valve for normally closing said nozzle, a tubular member continually in communication with said nozzle, a pressure head slidingly mounted in said tubular member, a spring for moving said head to one extreme position, means for limiting the movement of said pressure head in one direction so that its end will be substantially in line with said nozzle, a piston in said tubular member for pressing a combustible mixture against said pressure head until said head has moved against the action of said spring away from said nozzle and until the mixture is ignited, means for causing said piston to function, and means for opening the valve in said nozzle at the time said mixture has reached the ignition point.

2. A device of the character described including a nozzle for directing fluid to a certain point, means for compressing and igniting a combustible mixture so as to flow through said nozzle, said means including a tubular structure extending past said nozzle at substantially right angles thereto but opening therein, a spring held in yielding, abutment in said tubular structure with one end normally in line with the nozzle, a compressing piston slidably positioned in said tubular member, spring means for moving said piston in one direction and a cam for moving said piston in the opposite direction, means coacting with said piston during its movement under the action of said spring means for drawing in a charge of combustible mixture, said last-mentioned means including a reciprocating valve in the compression end of said piston and a coil spring for normally holding said reciprocating valve closed, said coil spring being adapted to be overcome by suction when said piston is moved on its intake stroke, said piston when moved by said cam acting to compress said mixture against said abutment until the abutment moves a short distance against its spring and the mixture ignites, and a valve in said nozzle for opening said nozzle substantially at the time said mixture ignites.

3. In a device of the character described, a compressing piston structure comprising a hollow piston body having a plurality of openings at one end and a valve opening at the opposite end, a piston rod rigidly connected to said piston body for actuating the same, said piston rod having a longitudinal bore extending from the piston toward the opposite end, a valve normally filling said valve opening, said valve having a guiding rod slidingly extending into said bore, and a spring in said bore for normally holding said valve seated.

4.In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an air intake valve, a nozzle in the side wall of said cylinder below the said intake valve, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said nozzle, means in communication with one end of said nozzle for compressing a fuel mixture to the point of ignition, a time shaft, and means set in motion by said time shaft for causing said compressing means and said valve to function in proper time.

5. In an internal combustion engine having a cylinder provided with an air intake valve and an exhaust valve, a nozzle, a valve extending into said nozzle for controlling the flow of fluid through said nozzle, a power actuated piston for compressing a combustible mixture and force the same through said nozzle, a spring-pressed reciprocating abutment against which said mixture is compressed, and means timing the opening of said valve in respect to the action of said piston.

6. An ignition device for an oil burning engine including a tubular member, means forming an outlet for said tubular member, a springpressed valve normally closing said outlet, a reciprocating tubular pressure head formed with a closed end normally adjacent said outlet with the opposite end open, a spring acting on said opposite end for normally holding the tubular pressure .head in. a position for closing said outlet, a piston in said tubular member functioning to press a combustible mixture against the closed end of said pressure head until the pressure head moves against the action of said spring until said outlet is uncovered, means for causing said piston to function, and means for opening said spring-pressed valve at the time said combustible mixture has reached the ignition point, said piston being hollow with an opening in its pressure end, a valve for closing said opening when the piston is on its power stroke, said last-mentioned valve opening automatically on the suction stroke of the piston and a spring for limiting the opening of the last-mentioned valve.

JOHN F. ANDERS. 

